SONGS FOR A NEW WORLD

Jason Robert Brown's award-winning musical is reimagined by Vancouver's Fabulist Theatre for a run at PAL Studio Theatre (581 Cardero) ending April 1.

Moments of change, doubt, fear, and hope come to life in this portrayal of immigrants, visionaries, mothers, cynics, dreamers, and lovers. Songs for a New World has been described as sitting on the boundary between musical and song cycle, while being neither. It is an abstract musical, a series of songs connected by a theme: "the moment of decision."

Songs for a New World has become a favourite small show for colleges and local theatres, despite its vocally demanding score. The music of Songs for a New World is heavily influenced by a broad range of musical genres, including pop, gospel, and jazz. Many of the songs combine elements of two or more of these genres.

Tickets here.

ONE FLEW OVER THE CUCKOO'S NEST

August Fourth Productions brings this stage adaptation of Jack Kesey's novel of the same name to the Performing Arts Lodge (PAL) Studio Theatre April 4 through 14.

Jon Macintyre is RP McMurphy (Andrew Zeller Photo)

Who can forget Jack Nicholson's dynamic portrayal of Randle Patrick McMurphy in the movie version of this gripping story? McMurphy is a rogue who contrives to serve a short sentence in an airy mental institution rather than in a prison.

He learns this was a mistake when he clashes with the fierce head nurse, Nurse Ratched. McMurphy quickly takes charge of the ward, leads others out of introversion, stages a revolt to watch the World Series on TV, and throws a midnight party with booze and women. All of this leads to a final encounter with Nurse Ratched which culminates in a chilling conclusion you don’t want to miss.

August Fourth’s production of One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest is a play in two acts with a 15 minute intermission.

This show uses adult language and depicts adult situations. It not appropriate for all ages. Discretion is advised.

Tickets here.

LET'S GET LOUD! SING CITY CHOIR MARKS TEN SONGFUL YEARS

The West End based 140-voice rock-pop ensemble Sing City Choir celebrates its tenth anniversary, promising to "blow the roof off" with special guests Fat Chants, Joani Taylor, John Pippus, their new country choir OK Chorale, saxophonist Chris Startup, and the rockabilly stylings of Elle King's Ex's and Ohs.

You'll be able to hear it from blocks away, but best to be there in person on Saturday, April 22 at 7:30 p.m. at St. Andrew's Wesley Church (1022 Nelson). Tickets here.

THE DRAG SHOW NEVER ENDS ON DAVIE STREET !

Last month was the 46th annual Dogwood Monarchist Society drag court gala, with drag artistes from all over the continent descending for a week-long celebration of the election of the new Empress of Vancouver. But in the West End the drag show never ends, and there's a small cabal of queens who are determined to give you your money's worth of glitter and glam just about every night of the week.

The main culprit in all this camping and vamping is Peach Cobblah, who when she isn't dominating (wink, wink) the stages of Davie Street's three main drag venues, is helping her alter ego writer Dave Deveau pen and mount such popular shows as Elbow Room: The Musical or hosting cozy fireside chats like Tucked & Plucked.

Following La Cobblah around from bar to bar, in various states of disrepair, you'll find a gaggle of some of the wildest dragsters you've ever seen. On Tuesday, April 4 there's her signature Shame Spiral at 1180 (1180 Davie), where anything and anyone could happen -- and that goes on every Tuesday, forever. Wednesday, April 5 she's co-hosting The Barron Gurl show with the delightful Isolde N. Barron (sound it out slowly) at The Junction. If you have the strength, on Saturday the 15th you can catch Peach teaming up with Carlotta Gurl back at The Junction, followed on Friday the 21st with Yet Another $%&ing 90s Show at XY (not easy to reach by phone or website, so just google them).

Check the venue websites for times and other details.

And that's just the West End. These showgirls are all over town at clubs and venues you don't even want to know about. So be thankful we get them as often as we do, and plan to take a walk on the wild side sometime soon.